CVE-2001-1150 in Virus Buster
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in cgiWebupdate.exe in Trend Micro OfficeScan Corporate Edition (aka Virus Buster) 3.5.2 through 3.5.4 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1150 resides within the cgiWebupdate.exe component of Trend Micro OfficeScan Corporate Edition versions 3.5.2 through 3.5.4, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on affected systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the web-based update mechanism of the OfficeScan suite, which was designed to provide centralized malware protection for enterprise environments. The flaw manifests in the improper handling of file paths within the web interface, creating a path traversal vulnerability that allows unauthorized access to sensitive system files. The affected cgiWebupdate.exe module operates with elevated privileges and processes user-supplied input without adequate validation, making it susceptible to exploitation by malicious actors who can craft specific requests to access files beyond the intended scope.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The attack vector leverages the web interface's lack of proper input sanitization, allowing attackers to manipulate file path parameters and navigate to arbitrary locations within the file system. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in corporate environments where OfficeScan serves as a critical security component, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files, user data, system logs, and potentially administrative credentials stored within the application's directory structure. The flaw exists because the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user input before using it in file system operations, creating an opportunity for attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve confidential information.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-1150 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to critical system components that could facilitate further compromise of the enterprise network. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to access not only user files but also system configuration data, backup files, and potentially sensitive corporate information stored within the OfficeScan installation directories. This vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and reconnaissance activities where adversaries attempt to gather information about the target environment. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit it, making it a significant threat to organizations that expose the OfficeScan web interface to external networks. The affected versions of OfficeScan were widely deployed in enterprise environments, amplifying the potential impact of this vulnerability across multiple organizations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches released to address the path traversal flaw, disabling the vulnerable web interface components when not required, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected systems. Security administrators should also conduct thorough audits of the OfficeScan installation directories to identify any unauthorized access or file modifications that may have occurred during exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper access control implementation in web-based applications, as well as the critical need for regular security updates and vulnerability assessments. Additional protective measures should include monitoring network traffic for suspicious file access patterns and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious path traversal attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls for the OfficeScan web interface components to minimize the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future.